Tried and Tested – Picnic Blankets

Whether you’re heading to the beach, off on a camping trip or relaxing in your own back garden, a picnic rug is essential for comfort and convenience. There are plenty to choose from: waterproof, lightweight, large or luxury – find the one that best suits your needs below

Best lightweight

As well as being bright and colourful, this fleece rug is extremely practical. It’s lightweight and rolls up quickly and easily to a compact shape, and it also has a carry handle included. The underside of the rug is waterproof and when tested on damp grass, it resisted moisture, remaining completely dry. It’s easy to clean with a damp cloth, and a good size too – 135cm x 135cm – big enough to seat four people and a picnic comfortably.

Best large

Measuring a huge 200cm x 270cm, this rug is large enough to fit 8-10 people, making it ideal for a group picnic. The material is both waterproof (on both sides) and anti-fungal so it’s perfect for use with small children. As it’s decorated on both sides, if one side becomes dirty you just turn the rug over. It’s also great for the beach as the sand shakes off easily. It could also double as a groundsheet for your tent. The UV protection means it should prove resilient and not discolour. We found laying a blanket over the top gave added comfort.
It also comes with a practical carrying bag, into which it folds down, though not to a compact size.

Best waterproof

This vintage-style picnic rug, in four colours of waterproof canvas (Tea Caddy Green, New England Red, Cabinet Makers Blue and Wild Bayberry), looks and feels both high quality and durable. It’s made from waterproof 16oz canvas and has integrated leather straps and a handle for easy transportation. At 1.8m x 1.2m, it’s big enough to sit around six people, but it’s really quite heavy – and may be better used in the garden or on a campsite than on a day out.

Most versatile

Made from chunky pure wool, this rug looks and feels beautifully soft and luxurious. Although it’s not waterproof, it does have an innate ability to be naturally moisture resistant so can confidently be used as a picnic rug. However it is also versatile enough to be used to cover your knees or wrap around your shoulders when you’re enjoying events in chilly weather. It also wouldn’t look out of place as a living room throw, either. Plus, measuring in at 200cm x 149cm, it’s larger than the average picnic rug too.